Saturday, January 8, 2011

It'll be 1 versus 2 Sunday in the final of the California Open in Canoga Park, California, as Kane Waselenchuk, the #1 player on the International Racquetball Tour (IRT), will play the IRT's #2 player, Rocky Carson.

On Saturday, Waselenchuk trailed 4th seed Jack Huczek in both the first and second games of their semi-final match, yet won it in three straight games, 11-5, 11-9, 11-3. In game one, Huczek was up 5-2 in game one but Waselenchuk ran off 9 straight points to take it 11-5.

In game two, Huczek took a 6-0 lead and held the lead to 9-5. But again Waselenchuk came back to win, 11-9. Game three was all Waselenchuk as he led 10-1 and won it 11-3.

Afterwards, Waselenchuk said it was a "tough match" as "Jack is a great player." Asked about changing gears in game one, Waselenchuk said it wasn't that so much as he "took more time and focussed on the serve."

Waselenchuk's goal with the serve was not to hit aces, but rather "just trying to get weak returns," as then he could convert those into points.